Fried Rice Balls (also known as Arancini) are delicious! They’re great as an appetizer or side dish.
Instead of frying them I made them in the air fryer. They came out delicious! You can also bake them in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer.
I prefer the air fryer because I thing it comes out crispier and it takes less time.
Not frying the rice balls in oil helps to save a lot of points. Each rice ball is only 3 points for blue, green and purple.
Most of the points from this recipe comes from the rice. There isn’t much I could change about that unless I wanted to use cauliflower rice, but I wanted real rice.
I used 1 cup of (uncooked) jasmine rice. Once it cooks it ends up being about 2 cups.
Before I started cooking the rice I diced up 1/2 of a yellow onion. I sautéed the onion in 1 teaspoon of olive oil. After the onions cooked for a couple of minutes I added minced garlic.
Next I added the uncooked rice to the pan and gave it a good stir. I added some salt and then chicken broth.
Using chicken broth instead of water helps to give the rice more flavor. I covered the rice and let it cook for 20 minutes.
Once the rice was done cooling I poured it onto a plate and spread it out so it would cool fast.
Rice Balls are usually stuffed with cheese. To keep them light I used Sargento light string cheese. You can have 2 for only 3 points.
I cut each piece of string cheese into 5 pieces.
Since the rice is kind of sticky it helps if you keep your hands wet while making the rice balls. I formed the rice into a ball then poked a piece of cheese into the center. I made sure the ball was nice and tight so the cheese didn’t ooze out while cooking.
Once all 10 balls are made you spray them with olive oil spray. Then they’re off to the air fryer (or oven) to cook!
I serve the rice balls with marinara sauce. They are delicious and filling!
Yield: 10 servings (3 points per serving for blue, green and purple)
- 1 cup jasmine rice (uncooked)
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 pieces Sargento light string cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
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Heal oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and sauté 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in the rice then add the chicken broth. Cover and cook on low 20 minutes.
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Once the rice is cooked pour it onto a plate and spread it out to cool.
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Cut each piece of string cheese into 5. You should have 10 total pieces of cheese.
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Wet your hands and form the rice into 10 balls. Put one piece of cheese in the center of the ball and make sure it is sealed.
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Lay out 3 small bowls. Add the flour to one bowl, then the egg (scramble the egg) and finally the breadcrumbs.
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Dip each rice ball in the flour, followed by the egg then the breadcrumbs.
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Spray the rice balls with olive oil spray.
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Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 7-9 minutes turning halfway through.
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake the rice balls 25 minutes or until the breadcrumbs turn golden.
Here are some more WW friendly recipes:
If you’re looking for some zero point recipes, check out my post 20 Zero Point Recipes or my post 20 (More) Zero Point Recipes. Both are filled with delicious recipes that won’t cost you a single point! They’re perfect for days when you’re running low on points, or trying to save up points for a night out.
If you’re looking for dessert recipes you can visit 50 Weight Watchers Freestyle Desserts. It’s filled with delicious desserts perfect for Weight Watchers!
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